It wasn't that she was really too tired to keep going. In addition, the flight attendants paid special attention to their row, coming and going repeatedly, far more frequently and often than any flight she had ever experienced before. No matter how hard Qian Duoduo tried, she couldn't turn her fake sleep into real sleep.
But since it was a late flight, the cabin was quiet after dinner, and the sound of typing around her was repetitive and rhythmic. Eventually, she became a little sleepy.
Suddenly she felt warm all over, and when she looked up she saw him bending down to cover her with a blanket, his eyes downcast. He gave her an apologetic smile because she had woken him up.
"It's cold in the cabin, be careful not to catch a cold."
The blanket was already up to her chin, and his fingers were right below her nose. That faint woody scent was back, lush and green, like the smell of trees. What should she do? Her body wasn't as strong as her mind. She was bewitched once again, her heart pounding.
Chapter 56
Unable to fathom the turmoil in her heart, Xu Fei only saw a Qian Duoduo who was still half-asleep. She squinted at herself, her body covered by a gray blanket, only her white face visible, without makeup, her expression blank. Like a small, soft animal, lost and helpless in an unfamiliar jungle. Was this the Qian Duoduo others described as capable and efficient? Why was the Qian Duoduo he saw always different from the Qian Duoduo others saw?
He was serious when he said those words yesterday, but he didn't expect her to run away in such a panic. He wanted to chase after her, but then he thought it wouldn't be good to push her too hard. But now, seeing her reaction to him, he couldn't help but feel remorseful.
Having not slept for nearly twenty hours and constantly worrying about her reaction, he was utterly exhausted when he rushed to the airport.
When I arrived at the boarding gate, I saw her turn around and walk into the passage. The man I had only caught a glimpse of once stood there watching her go. It was a very beautiful scene.
But he didn't like it, and felt suffocated. He unconsciously quickened his pace and ran over, but when he saw her surprised look, he felt a little stupid.
He noticed her hesitation and defensiveness when she spoke to him, and the way she avoided his gaze after glancing at the screen. He felt defeated and a little frustrated. After all, he was young and inexperienced in this area, and he wasn't thick-skinned enough. He was afraid that if he said anything more, she would reject him outright. So, he held back for a long time and only said a few unimportant words.
Later, when he found out she was pretending to be asleep, he didn't expose her. He just gradually slowed down his button presses and couldn't control himself, staring at her absentmindedly from time to time.
Qian Duoduo kept her eyes tightly closed, completely unaware of what was happening. But as time passed, her breathing gradually became even and light. Her hands were folded in front of her, and her interlaced fingers slowly loosened. Afraid that she might really fall asleep and catch a cold, he turned on the light and asked the young lady to bring a blanket to cover her.
Unexpectedly, she woke up immediately, indicating that she hadn't slept deeply enough, or perhaps due to nervousness. She would become tense whenever she was near him, making him feel increasingly defeated.
If she doesn't have feelings for him, she can just say so. Why is she nervous? Is she intimidated by his position as director? That shouldn't be the case. At the beginning, her relationship with him was tense because of that drunken misunderstanding, and they even clashed. Now that the misunderstanding has cleared up, she's the one who's starting to feel uneasy.
Not knowing what he was thinking, all she could see was her own reflection in the man's dark pupils, and her pounding, irregularly beating heartbeat. Reaching for the blanket, Qian Duoduo calmed herself before speaking, "Thank you, are you—finished?"
"That's about it. We'll talk about the rest when we get to the hotel." Noticing her caution, his sense of failure intensified. He smiled as he spoke, but as soon as his lips relaxed, fatigue showed, and his usual energy vanished.
Not wanting to discuss this topic, and unable to think of anything else to say, Qian Duoduo was surprised when the flight attendant came over to serve drinks. She only ordered a glass of water, took the glass, said thank you, and then lowered her head to drink, hiding her lack of words.
She heard him order coffee, but the coffee on the plane was bland and tasteless. He drank it without any flavor. Qian Duoduo couldn't help but glance at him out of the corner of her eye and saw that he only swallowed a sip and then stared blankly at the dark night outside the porthole.
The plane had begun to slowly descend, tilting over the clouds. The world-famous Hong Kong night view unfolded before our eyes like a scroll painting. On this clear, cold night, the lights on the ground were colorful and bustling, as if a sky full of stars had been scattered. The Tsing Ma Bridge swept past like a silver river. When we landed, the airport was brightly lit, and the light from the windows made our faces feel like they were being sprayed with mercury.
Many people in the cabin were busy talking, and there were also tourists who were rushing to stand up to get their luggage and get off the plane, but he was lost in thought the whole time. His profile looked tired, and the dazzling city lights were just a vague background, as if he were in another world.
Going it alone is ultimately exhausting. No matter how young and energetic you are, dealing with those cunning old foxes will always make you feel mentally tired.
She had also struggled in factional turmoil and felt powerless in the past, but compared to his level, it was nothing. Even so, seeing his rare fatigue up close, she still empathized with him.
The initial wariness and tension suddenly vanished. Instinctively, she didn't want the scene to continue, but she didn't know how to interrupt. After hesitating for a few seconds, her fingers holding the water glass twitched repeatedly. Finally, her willpower prevailed, and Qian Duoduo ultimately chose to remain silent.
The company sent a car to wait for us at the airport. We arrived at the hotel around nine o'clock. The lobby was brightly lit and magnificent. As we walked through the revolving door, someone was walking out. Suddenly, he smiled at Xu Fei.
She was a Japanese woman, dressed in a neat suit, with her hair up. She was completely different from the gentle and graceful image of Japanese women that Qian Duoduo had in mind. Xu Fei smiled and pulled her out to introduce her.
"Dona, this is Keiko Yamada, my colleague when I worked in Japan. Keiko, this is Qian Duoduo, the senior manager of the China region marketing department."
Qian Duoduo was taken aback. She had heard of this name before. Yamada Keiko came from a wealthy family. Her father was one of the shareholders of UVL and held a seat on the board of directors. She had always appeared in the company as her father's special assistant. She was a famous young lady from a wealthy family.
"Kenny, it's been a long time." Keiko Yamada smiled at him with her hands in front of her, then turned her gaze to Qian Duoduo and shook her hand. "Ms. Qian, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Qian Duoduo responded immediately, somewhat surprised by her Western style. She had little contact with Japanese women, and Marumi was a typical example of traditional Japanese style, with elaborate manners in her speech and actions. Now, encountering someone with such a stark contrast, she found it hard to accept.
The three of them stood and chatted for a few minutes. Keiko Yamada spoke politely and courteously, and they only talked about the simplest work updates. But for some reason, Qian Duoduo always felt like she couldn't get a word in edgewise. Later, when she mentioned the Japanese marketing department, her voice was very low. Xu Fei frowned as he listened, then lowered his head a little closer to her and asked, "Um, what did you say?"
Feeling awkward standing there, Qian Duoduo suddenly felt terrible and said goodbye, "Kenny, Huizi, you two chat, I'm going upstairs first." Without waiting for Xu Fei to stop her, she nodded and turned to go inside.
Chapter 57
As usual, the company booked a Hyatt hotel. The room was spacious and comfortable. Although it was only a two- or three-hour flight, Qian Duoduo felt that she had never been so tired from flying. When she saw the bed, she couldn't resist, so she put down her luggage and lay down.
I only intended to rest for a bit and then start packing, but I drifted off to sleep. I was only woken up when my phone rang loudly in my bag. I sat up to reach for it, and when I answered, my mother's voice was very loud on the other end: "You didn't even call home when you got there. Don't you know your parents are worried?"
After saying sorry, she said a few more words. In just a few minutes, her mother even took the time to praise Ye Mingshen. Ye Mingshen gave her a headache, and she couldn't refuse to discuss him. If she showed any sign of refusing to discuss him, her mother would scold her harshly.
So Qian Duoduo could only stammer and mumble as she dealt with the situation, her mother's nagging in her ears, while her mind uncontrollably replayed the scenes of her time with that man.
She knew why her mother liked Ye Mingshen. He had a respectable job, was handsome, and had a refined personality. Such a man was the dream man of every woman of marriageable age, and even the most discerning eye could not find a fault with him.
It's so perfect, why can't she accept it? Is it because she doesn't feel any spark? At her age, still talking about sparks! She's self-immolated time and time again, and still hasn't learned her lesson?
No wonder people say older women are all strange. She used to think it was all bullshit, but now, even she thinks there's something wrong with her brain.
She dared not say that she had rejected such a perfect man. Her mother was still nagging and begging on the other end of the phone. When she finally hung up, Qian Duoduo was extremely helpless. She looked at the time and it was already past ten o'clock. Sigh, if things are not going well at work, you can make a clean break and choose to leave. But what about life? After all, these are her relatives. Her mother is waiting for her to give an explanation before she can give an explanation to all her relatives and friends. Everyone is under pressure, but in the end, it is still her who has to make the decision. Sigh, she hasn't even gone through menopause yet, so why does she feel overwhelmed?
Disturbed and unable to sleep, the image of Xu Fei and Yamada Keiko chatting so familiarly kept replaying in her mind. She felt like she must be crazy to care, but she couldn't stop thinking about it. Disturbed and feeling hungry, she stood by the window biting her fingernails, getting hungrier the more she thought about it.
This wasn't her first time in Hong Kong for a conference, and the Hyatt was her usual hotel. She remembered there was an incredibly delicious congee shop just a street away, but too lazy to think about it anymore, she decided to indulge her appetite and leave all her worries for tomorrow, grabbing her bag and pushing open the door to leave.
As soon as I stepped outside, I saw the door next to me open at the same time, and Xu Fei came out, wearing a hoodie and sneakers, back to the street style I had worn when we first met.
"Are you done talking?" Seeing him appear alone, she felt a strange sense of joy. "Yeah, a little while ago." He walked over to her, his steps small, but miraculously, he was beside her in an instant. "Why are you dressed like that?" "I wanted to go for a run, want to come along?"
Running? Qian Duoduo looked down at his watch in surprise. Didn't he say he hadn't slept for more than twenty hours? He actually wants to run? Is he Superman?
He was still waiting for a reply, and when he saw her surprised expression, he just smiled.
Xu Fei usually dresses formally at the company, but his current attire is a far cry from the professional director image he is used to. He is dressed casually, and his smile is even more dazzling. Although Qian Duoduo is used to it, she still feels a little dizzy for a second.
Jealousy gripped her; she longed to become Snow White's stepmother, clutching the magic mirror and questioning where her youth had gone, before it could even speak.
"You're going for a run like that? Our colleagues are everywhere here." She looked down at herself. "Isn't that inappropriate?"
"Like a college student sneaking in, aren't you afraid they won't let you into the venue tomorrow?" "It's okay, I'll just say I'm here for an internship, and I'll work for free."
The boss told another joke, and Qian Duoduo immediately laughed twice to appease him. After laughing, she walked towards the elevator, refusing his suggestion, "I'm hungry, I'm going to get something to eat."
Are you kidding me? She's trying to avoid this man like the plague, going for a run together? Forget it.
He walked alongside her. Qian Duoduo, who was very experienced in taking flights, was dressed casually and comfortably today. She was still wearing the same flat shoes and cropped pants as before. It was cold in Shanghai, and she had been wearing a thick short coat before boarding the plane, but she had already taken it off. Underneath, she was only wearing a white cashmere sweater with a flat collar, and a long scarf was casually draped around her neck.
He wanted to speak, but the phone rang, so he stopped. Qian Duoduo naturally didn't wait for him; she kept walking and took a few more steps before entering the elevator.
It was past ten o'clock. The hotel was in Sha Tin. The streets were wide and there weren't many people. Qian Duoduo was focused on getting food, so she kept her eyes straight ahead and walked quickly.
She heard laughter and conversation coming from the direction of her. Several young people, both men and women, were dressed in a trendy way. They were walking arm in arm, laughing and joking with each other, looking like they were heading to a nightclub. She was walking with her head down and didn't notice them. As they passed each other, she was bumped hard and stumbled.
Looking up, one of the men whistled in a sleazy tone, "Hey pretty lady, what's up?"
She didn't speak Cantonese, but she understood the teasing tone in those words. Anger welled up inside her, and she blurted out a reply.
As soon as she finished speaking, the group of people strode closer. At close range, Qian Duoduo finally saw the situation clearly. These young people had brightly colored hair, were chewing gum, and were looking at her with hostility. In the cold weather, a large section of the white waist of one of the girls was exposed, and red and black tattoos could be vaguely seen extending downwards.
The street was quiet with few pedestrians. No matter how righteous one was, it was clear that something bad was going to happen. Qian Duoduo swallowed hard and couldn't help but take a step back.
Unexpectedly, there was someone behind me. I stepped back and bumped into them. I turned around hastily, and before I could even see the person's face clearly, I smelled the familiar woody scent. "Kenny."
"Mmm," he responded, then gently pulled her shoulder, and in the blink of an eye, all Qian Duoduo could see was a broad back.
He stood in front of her and spoke to the group of people in fluent Cantonese. The man was dressed casually today and was always good at saying whatever came to mind. After a few words, he even laughed with them and patted each other on the shoulder to say goodbye.
When the group left, she was already passively pulled under his shoulder. He was tall and had long arms, so he naturally wrapped his arms around her shoulder, making her feel as if she were trapped in her own little world.
Still wary of those people's stares, Qian Duoduo unconsciously moved closer to the man beside her. His hoodie had a soft, warm velvet outer layer that brushed against her cheeks, suggesting he had just taken a shower, as the faint scent of wood was even more pronounced.
Since her last relationship, she hadn't experienced such intimacy for a long time, and at first, she was unaccustomed to it, her whole body stiffening.
But the warmth of the velvet and the scent of the wood slowly bewitched her. With her ear pressed against his left chest, the gentle, steady heartbeat seemed like some kind of primal music, gradually relaxing her.
The group finally left. As the tattooed girl was leaving, she gave Xu Fei and her friend a look of utter disbelief, an expression that everyone could understand: "How did a woman like you manage to hook him? You two are such a mismatch."
Having been cozy in that warm little space for a long time, Qian Duoduo was already somewhat lost in thought. But when she was glared at, she was suddenly jolted awake and straightened up to move to the side.
Please, she never goes well with this kind of streetwear style, okay?
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Not surprised by her sudden retreat, Xu Fei naturally withdrew his hand, put his hands in his pockets, looked down at her with a smile, and asked, "Dona, are you alright?"
The man had just done her a huge favor, and Qian Duoduo was too embarrassed to press him for details about what he had said or why he had to put his arm around her before saying goodbye.
Pretending nothing had happened, she first thanked him, "Thank you so much, I'm so grateful to you." "It's nothing, these things happen everywhere, you're a girl, you have to be careful."
Qian Duoduo was both amused and exasperated. He called her a girl so naturally, as if she were a lost child who had run away from her parents and had just been rescued by him as a good deed.
"Weren't you going for a run?" Forget it, Qian Duoduo reminded him of his original purpose for leaving the hotel, not wanting to argue with his boss over wording.
"I'm a little tired, and I want to eat something." He was still smiling, but his voice wasn't as energetic as before; it was lowered and slightly hoarse.
It turns out he's not made of iron after all; that was the first thought that came to Qian Duoduo's mind.
Naturally, the two ended up going to the congee shop together. It wasn't their first time there. She sat down and ordered ginkgo congee, telling him not to be shy, as it was her treat today.
The so-called "delicious congee shops" are actually just the most ordinary street-side tea restaurants, located near residential areas, with soft seats like those on a train, tiled walls, and very simple tea menus.
The milk tea was smooth and thick, and the ginkgo porridge was fragrant. Qian Duoduo was starving and couldn't care less about being polite. She buried her head in her food and ate heartily.
He was the same; the two of them didn't say a word, holding the food in front of them without even looking up.
Although she didn't look up, they were sitting face to face, so she could clearly see the other person's situation out of the corner of her eye. Halfway through the meal, Qian Duoduo suddenly couldn't help but look up and say, "Yesterday, you were joking, weren't you?"
He looked up, listened without answering, then smiled at her, his eyes crinkling, before continuing to eat. Feeling slightly relieved by his smile, Qian Duoduo added, "Starving?"
"Yeah, the food on the plane felt like I hadn't eaten anything. What about you?" "A little bit, but not entirely. I have a bad habit: the more annoyed I am, the more I want to eat." Speaking the truth, she lowered her head and continued eating.
"Aren't you afraid of getting fat?" I usually see professional women who are very reserved, but it's rare to see one who eats so unrestrainedly. So every time I see her eating, I feel like I'm enjoying it.
“Sir, think about those disaster victims. We should cherish what we have to eat, okay?” He smiled. “Okay, eating when you’re tired is a good habit.”
“Unlike you, running even when you’re tired, that’s a good habit from the African savanna.” Accustomed to her sharp tongue, she replied quickly, only realizing after speaking that the man sitting in front of her was someone she should now avoid. A little annoyed with her quick tongue, Qian Duoduo quickly stuffed a spoon into her mouth.
She spoke with a smile, and as she raised her spoon, her small tongue flickered across her lips. I had felt very tired just moments before, but suddenly I felt joy, and that fatigue vanished in an instant.
Not hearing a reply, Qian Duoduo looked over with a spoon in her mouth and added, "Just kidding, don't mind it."
I don't mind, it's all his fault. Because I have feelings for her, I feel happy seeing every little thing she does.
The spoon was still in her mouth, and she waited and waited for an answer, but the man in front of her remained silent. Slowly, his eyes curved into a smile, but he still didn't utter a sound.
The tea restaurant was bustling and lively. The simple, long incandescent light tubes cast a bright light, illuminating the surroundings as if it were daytime. People were talking loudly around them, and waiters were carrying trays and moving back and forth, calling out orders in a loud voice, "Who wants fish congee? And three cups of milk tea, coming right away."